Please read my initial blog, which is below this one, and then read this one. They are related. My first blog entry, which, much to my surprise, received over 1,000 visitors in less than a week, is easily corroborated by emails and a text sent from producers and I firmly stand by every word. Surprising that the producers would contradict their own emails in a public statement using my full name and accuse me of lying. Did they forget what they wrote in their emails to me? Can a woman write her perspective and take a macro approach without being accused of being an angry lesbian or a "victim"? Aren't these the usual summations of a woman speaking up? How unoriginal.

I didn’t write the newspaper article that caused the producers to be so defensive, nor did I ask for it to be written. I sent a correction to amend a press release informing media not to announce my participation in that LGBT shorts series. I talked to the writer for 5 minutes, because he emailed and asked me to call him. I didn’t know he was writing a feature. I never claimed to be "angry" or "furious" and I certainly didn’t take the “victim” stance, a frequent go-to when referring to a woman who speaks up. I wasn’t “complaining”. I simply decided to express my perspective in a blog on my own website. I took a month to contemplate the situation. I had no idea the writer would assume to know my feelings, or would make the producers look bad. When the writer asked me if I thought the producers were “anti-lesbian”, my response to a term I have never heard before was “Not at all. Their focus is on the ‘G’, which is fine and common. This is supposed to be an LGBT series. It would be good to have at least one lesbian playwright. Don’t you think?” I was after all commissioned to write a short play for them many months ago. Would gay men want to watch a shorts series when none of the writers are members of their community?

Beware, feminist perspective ahead! If I was a man “angrily taking to social media” to “complain” or “rant”, would it be framed differently? Perhaps, something like, "he forcefully expresses his experience", or "stands up for himself", or "bravely stated his opinion". I urge you to read my play, which I sarcastically refer to as "controversial". The quotes are there, because I don't think it is “controversial” or “edgy”. As I said before, the play explores Narcissistic Personality Disorder and the habit of "straight" women that toy with lesbians for sport. If the lead character is viewed as “mean spirited” that is because she is suffering from a specific personality disorder and lacks empathy. People like this exist in the world. It is unfortunate, but they do.

The producers also state that the play is attacking someone’s sexual orientation. Really? This is a fictional work, a work where the lead character changes her sexuality depending on what she wants or needs from someone. This is a trait of someone seeking narcissistic supply.

It was only after the actors objected to the play's content, that Clit Tease was under scrutiny. The play was selected many months prior to the read through. Now, suddenly there are "well known events"? If these supposed events were so "well known" and would prevent them from producing the play, why didn't the producers say something prior to the read through? Could these supposed "well known events" be a result of distortion and/or gossip? I wonder.

Here’s the producers' offer (*names were changed) from their email, copy and paste: “I am going to lay this out as 100% openly and honestly as I can …” “After a lot of going back and forth with this, Tom* [producer]and I wanted to suggest that you hold onto the piece and direct it next year for us when we won’t be working with Jack* and Jill*[objecting actors] and can do the piece as it should be done. There is a better than 50% chance that we will be moving “[Name of series] #3”* (next summer) to Miami Beach after it's Ft. Laud theatre* run so it would have a wider audience. However, if you feel comfortable converting it to the remaining two actresses then we could do it. I know this is a crappy scenario for you but both Tom* and I feel like there isn’t really anything we can do at this point, short of replacing Jack* and Jill*(which is not really an option for us at this point).”

Why would producers offer to include my supposedly “mean spirited” play, Clit Tease, in next summer’s shorts series #3, if they feel it is offensive as claimed in their statement? Why, if the self identified straight actors’ objections aren’t the reason they pulled the play, do they say that they want to hold off ‘til next year when those actors aren’t involved, so that I can direct it and do it the way it should be done? Why would they want my play in front of an even wider audience? Why would they say that if they feel they need to protect people in the tight knit theatre community? Why would they say I could rewrite the play to exclude two characters and still do it this year?

My response was “As far as next year, we can address that at a later date. Part of my hesitancy is the two objecting actors could be involved again next year and once again, could control which shows are produced.” Would you trust these producers after all of this? Yeah, neither do I.

Oh and they gave me the option of changing the well-composed play by eliminating 2 characters, so that those two actors wouldn’t have to act in my play. Then they would have included it this year. The play originally called for 6 actors, 3 women and 3 men. The objecting actors are one female and one male. My response was “I'm very comfortable with the play as it is. To me, it is one of my strongest works to date and speaks to the American lesbian experience.” Why would I change a well-composed play to accommodate two objecting actors?

By the way, the title of the producers’ last email to me was “To a passionate and respected artist”. I guess if I had been a good little lesbian and kept my mouth shut, I would still be viewed as such.

Perhaps the most egregious claim is that I am somehow trying to divide the LGBT community. Really? Did they spend 3 years in grad school in order to serve the LGBT community? I did. I am a therapist in this community with a Master of Social Work. I care about the people that comprise the LGBT community and have a great deal of empathy for the LGBT population. I work with people from every letter. I will continue to advocate for the voices of the lesser served. My intention in writing the initial blog is to let my thoughts be known about my play being pulled. That has nothing to do with dividing a community. I simply chose to state what happened. So while their decision-making seems to be micro- focused, their claim against me is super-macro.

I don’t see this as an “L” verses “G” situation or “straight” verses “L”. I see this as a decision between a lesbian play or two actors and their personal opinions and assumptions (likely based upon gossip) about a lesbian play. They chose the actors. That is up to them. I don’t have to agree and I can talk about that. Some may not see it as an attempt at silencing a lesbian voice. I do.

By the way, the producers have set their statement to public on Facebook. This means the handful of Carbonell voters, who might want to at least consider feigning public neutrality, and a few members of the SoFL theatre community that "liked" their statement, are now public supporters of a false statement given in an attempt to cover the producers’ tracks and save face while using my full name and accusing me of lying. Read my blog. Read my play. Read their quotes. They are exact.

Kutumba Theatre Project has done 3 different shows, 4 productions. The first and current, Baby GirL, represents the “L” and the “G”. The second, The Beebo Brinker Chronicles had a “B”, a few “L”s, “G”, and “T” (modern Beebo would likely be Trans). Julie Johnson had an “L” and a “B”. I’m proud of this mix and will continue to seek out plays that speak to the LGBT community with an emphasis on the underserved “L”. I will also look to give a voice to other underserved communities outside of the LGBT community.

This is likely the last blog I will write on this particular matter. I have spent a thoughtful amount of time on this topic and am grateful for the support I have received and the larger than expected platform to speak about a subject I find to be important. Regardless of the next potential wave of claims, I know the truth. The truth is sitting in the inbox of my email and on my phone in a text message.

POLITICAL BS!! HAHA Carbonells are a joke. I am honestly not shocked by what happened... Your plays being pulled all this bs is because these people see you as a threat. Simple as that......They want the community to serve them - you want to serve the community.